Saved Schools

Morgan Oliver School

Morgan Oliver School, nominated by Center on Reinventing Public Education, is an elementary/middle school in Atlanta, Georgia, that describes itself as an independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily urban/suburban area.

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Location Atlanta, Georgia

Governance Independent (Private) School

Grades Elementary, Middle

Students 45

Locale Suburban, Urban

Founder, Head of School Sanidia Oliver Stone

Demographics

Percentage of students*

—

English Learners

32%

Free/Reduced Lunch

25%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 33%

American Indian/Alaska Native —

Asian —

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —

Hispanic or Latino 3%

White 40%

2+ Races —

Why Morgan Oliver School was nominated

As an independent microschool, Morgan Oliver School uses an antiracist and culturally affirming curriculum designed to nurture young people to be allies and activists for social justice. Students learn in multi-age groupings and learn through projects and experiences. The school has a strong commitment to instructional rigor and quality, and wants to ensure that if/when students return to the public school system, they are prepared to succeed at grade level work. The school has a high standard for staff qualifications and training.

Student experience design

The Morgan Oliver School is designed to feel like a place where children are known, trusted, challenged, and genuinely enjoy being at school. We intentionally built a school that feels different from most traditional environments. Our classrooms are calm, relationship-based, and academically serious without being high-pressure. Students spend time reading, writing, building, discussing, making art, solving problems, and working across age groups. They are expected to think, to take responsibility for their community, and to see themselves as capable people whose ideas matter. The student experience we are trying to create includes: * Small multi-age classrooms where students stay with teachers for multiple years *A strong focus on reading, writing, discussion, and critical thinking Project-based learning connected to history, science, and social issues *Lots of art, building, outdoor time, and hands-on work *Students learning how to resolve conflict, collaborate, and be part of a community *Teachers who know students deeply as people, not just as test scores *A school culture built around trust, responsibility, and belonging *Students who feel safe to be fully themselves *Students who see school as a place they are part of, not a place they are controlled Our goal is that students leave Morgan Oliver not just academically prepared, but confident, thoughtful, kind, and capable — young people who understand themselves, their communities, and the world around them, and who believe they have the ability and responsibility to shape it.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Family And Community Support Services
3-4 years

Project-based Learning
5+ years

Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need
5+ years

Restorative Practices
5+ years

SEL Integration School-wide
3-4 years

All Practices

Adaptive Learning Software

Advancement On Mastery

Student Advisories

AI For Teacher Productivity

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Community And Workforce Partnerships

Competency/mastery-based Education

Culturally Responsive Practices

Disaggregated Data On Student Participation

Dual Language Programming

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Educators Have Industry Experience

Individual Learner Profiles

Individual Learning Paths

Mental Health Services

1:1 Mentoring

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Multi-age Classrooms

No Tracked Classes

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

High Quality Instructional Materials

SEL Curriculum

Service Learning

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

Tutoring

Universal Design For Learning

Youth Employment Programs

Career Prep

key reasons for innovating

Address systemic inequities

Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools

Increase teacher agency

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.